Hollow sheet-metal article.



J. L. PUSNER.

HOLLOW SHEET METAL ARTIOLIL.

1 993,049. Patented Mayr23, 1911.

WITNESSES A w ""5 1n: "an": Prnnsrm, WAIIHNOTON p. c

1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JESSE LIiRENO FUSNER, OF WELLSBUR-G, WEST VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR T0 EAGLEGLASS & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF WELLSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA, ACORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

HOLLOW SHEET-METAL ARTICLE.

To all wiz-o'm if may concern:

Be it known that I, Jnssn L. FUsNER, of Wellsburg, Brooke county, WestVirginia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in HollowSheet-Metal Articles, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, formingpart of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a sectional view of ahollow sheet metal float constructed in accordance with my invention andshowing the formed parts separated from each other; Fig. 2 is i asectional view showing the welded connection between the parts; and Fig.8 is a section taken at right angles to Fig. 2 showing the completedarticle.

My invention has relation to the construction of hollow sheet metalarticles, and is particularly adapted to the construction of hollowsheet metal floats, but it may be applied to other vessels.

The invention is designed to provide a novel form of connection betweenthe sections of which the article is composed, which will not beaifected by expansion and contraction due to changes in temperature;which will reinforce and greatly increase the strength of the article;and which can be cheaply and rapidly made.

The nature of my invention will be best understood by reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which I have shown it applied to theconstruction of a globular hollow sheet metal float, and which will nowbe described, it being premised, however, that various changes may bemade in the form of the float sections, and that the invention isapplicable to other hollow sheet metal articles, without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

In these drawings, the numerals 2 and 3 designate the two sheet metalsections of which the float is composed, these sections being shown asof semi-globular form, although they will frequently be verticallyelongated and may be of various forms.

-The lower edge portion of the upper section 2 is bent outwardly andupwardly to 1 form the open flange 4. The upper edge portion of thelower section 3 is enlarged to form the flange 5, which is of greaterinternal diameter than the external diameter of the flange portion ofthe upper section.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 28, 1910.

Patented May 23, 1911.

Serial No. 546,578.

6 designates a strap or stirrup, which provides means for the connectionof the float to the usual float lever. This strap or stirrup is archedto approximately conform to the curvature of the upper section 2, andits lower end portions are bent backwardly and upwardly as shown at 7 soas to fit within the flange 4. The upper central portion of the strap orstirrup has an offset 8, which is perforated at 9 to receive the rod 10by which the float is connected to the float lever, the lower end ofthis rod passing through the perforation 9 and en-' gaging a nut 11,which is seated in the offset 8.

In uniting the parts, the flange 4 is inserted within the flange 5, andthe bent end portions 7 of the strap or stirrup are inserted within theflange 4. The flanges 4 and 5 are then united at their extreme edgeportions by welding, preferably by autogenous welding, by which the edgeportions of these flanges are flowed together to form a practicallyintegral connection. At the same time, and by the same operation, thebent end portions 7 of the strap or stirrup are also integrally unitedto the edges of the flanges 4 and 5.

Owing to the enlarged internal diameter of the flange portion of thelower section, a free space 12 is left between the flanges 4 and 5 afterthey have been united in the manner described, except at their free edgeportions where the connection is formed. This is clearly shown in Figs.2 and 3, and permits a free expansion and contraction of the articleunder changes of temperature without throwing stress upon theconnection. After the flanged edges have been welded in the mannerdescribed, they are preferably turned inwardly from the position shownin Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 3, thereby forming a bead 13extending centrally around the article, and which greatly reinforces andstrengthens it. The turning inwardly of the united edges of the sectionsto form this bead in no way closes up the space 12, which remains in thefinished article, as shown in Fig. 3. Heretofore it has been customaryto form articles of this kind by the provision of a separate strip orband uniting the edge portions of the sections and brazed thereto. Themove: ments of expansion and contraction to which the article issubjected soon breaks down or weakens the brazed connection, and in acomparatively short time the joint becomes defective and permits thefloat to become waterlogged, thereby destroying its usefulness. Infloats constructed in accordance with my invention, this defect .iswholly overcome, since, as above explained, the movements of expansionand contraction are provided for without in any way straining orweakening the connection between the sections.

While I may definitely connect the strap or stirrup to the float in themanner described, yet my invention is not limited thereto, as it isobvious that various other means may be provided for connecting thefloat vessel to a float lever.

What I claim is 1. A hollow sheet metal article formed in sections, themeeting edges of the sections having interfitting flange portions, andthe free edges of said flange portions being welded together, saidflange portions being otherwise separated by a space to provide forexpansion and contraction; substantially as described.

2. A hollow sheet metal float composed of two sections one of saidsections having its free edge portion bent backwardly to form a U-shapedflange, and the other section having its free edge portion expanded toform a flange of interior diameter larger than the exterior diameter ofthe flange por tion of the other section, and the free edges of theflange portions being welded together, said flange portions beingotherwise separated by a free space to provide for expansion andcontraction; substantially as described.

3. A hollow float vessel, formed in sections having interfitting flangeportions, the free edges of the flanges being welded, and the flangeportions being otherwise separated to provide for movements of expansionand contraction; substantially as described.

at. A hollow sheet metal float vessel,

.formed in sections, one of said sections having a U-shaped flange, andthe other section being enlarged or explained to form a flange portionof increased interior diameter, one

other, and the two portions being separated from each other except attheir free edges, which are integrally united, and the united edges ofthe flange portions being bent inwardly to form an external surroundingbead, and an attaching strap or stirrup having bent end portions fittedinto the U- shaped flange of the first-named section and securedtherein; substantially as described.

6. A hollow sheet metal article, formed in sections, the 'meeting edgesof the sections having interfltting flange portions, the free edges ofsaid flange portions being welded together and otherwise separated by aspace to provide for expansion and contraction and the welded edgeportions being turned in, substantially as described.

7. A float vessel, comprising wall sections joined together at theirmargins and forming a hollow closed body, and a stirrup embracing thehollow body and secured thereto at the joint between the sections, saidstirrup constituting means for fastening the body to an operatingdevice.

8. A float vessel, comprising substantially semi-spherical sectionsjoined together at their margins and forming a hollow closed body, and astirrup embracing one of the sections and having its ends secured tosaid body at the joint between the sections, said stirrup constitutingmeans for fastening the body to an operating device.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

JESSE LLRENO FUSNER.

Witnesses:

S. R. CALDWELL, W. M. SIMPsoN, Jr.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

